GG Kagombe: Gachagua’s attacks on Ruto are popular, but his candidacy is not
Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe has said that while Kenyans may support former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s criticism of President William Ruto, they are not willing to vote him into power.
Speaking on a local TV station on Sunday, August 10, 2025, Kagombe explained that many citizens resonate with Gachagua’s attacks on the President because they agree with the stance he takes, not because they have a personal preference for him as a leader.
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According to him, residents, especially in rural areas, appreciate Gachagua’s confrontations with the Head of State, viewing them as beneficial, but remain unconvinced about backing him at the ballot. In essence, Gakombe suggested that Gachagua’s actions may draw nods of approval, yet they fall short of winning him the trust and commitment needed to secure electoral victory.
“People are okay with Gachagua fighting President Ruto, but they will never elect Gachagua. When Rigathi Gachagua fights the President, the people are like ‘Okay, he is helping us.’ It is not because they like him; they like what he is doing. If you go to the villages, you will hear people saying ‘tunaweza msikiza, ni vizuri anapiga William, lakini hatuwezi mchagua,’” Kagombe said.
Campaign against Ruto
Since his dramatic impeachment in October 2024, Gachagua has refused to retreat from the political scene. Instead, he has intensified his criticism of the Head of State, accusing him of betraying the people he serves and of engaging in impunity.
The former deputy president has taken his campaign beyond Kenya’s borders, using his ongoing tour of the United States to speak out against the government. Recently, he accused the Ruto administration of having questionable international ties and called for a reassessment of Kenya’s foreign relations.
On Saturday, August 9, 2025, Gachagua claimed that President Ruto met with three Al-Shabaab militia members at night to discuss business deals. He further alleged that the President was involved in financing Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
His remarks sparked outrage from Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who demanded that Gachagua record a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations as soon as he returns to the country.
“He thinks that he is going to parade issues of terrorism in America to get votes,” Murkomen said during the Keiyo South Economic Empowerment Program.
Murkomen insisted that Gachagua must provide evidence to back his claims.
“As soon as he lands in Kenya, he must record a statement to tell us exactly which meetings he is having with terrorists,” the CS said.
Gachagua has maintained that he will not cooperate with Kenyan authorities, claiming that the matter is already with the American Senate.
“I am not talking ill of my country, just speaking the truth. I am not saying that Kenya is bad; it is a beautiful country, with good people, but with poor leadership,” he said.
He also accused the Kenyan government of failing to investigate his allegations against the President.
“I saw the Ministry of Interior saying we should be asked to help with the investigations in this matter. We cannot assist in any investigations because the Kenyan government has not initiated any investigations against William Ruto,” Gachagua stated.
